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Chinese President Xi Jinping says both ecosystems and people's livelihoods should be protected as forest areas are transformed and developed.

Chinese President Xi Jinping says both ecosystems and people's livelihoods should be protected as forest areas are transformed and developed. He made the remarks during a recent inspection tour in Yichun city in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

He made the remarks during a recent inspection tour in Yichun city in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

Yichun is the site of China's state-owned forest regions, and the city itself, known as China's "Forest Town", is home to the protected Korean pines.

According to a plan released by China's forestry authorities last year, commercial logging of natural forests will be gradually suspended by the end of 2016.

President Xi pledged more support from the government for those still working in the forestry industry, and more backing for new industries.

"Overall, ecological resources in our country are not well protected and exploited, so their protection has strategic significance. Such significance has become apparent in the forestry resources in Yichun in relation to the overall situation nationwide. If we merely make use of what is near at hand, all the fortune will finally be eaten away very soon. If the ecosystem here is destroyed, that will have a negative impact on the whole country. "

While visiting a local industrial park harvesting blueberries - a local specialty - the president called for more research into the development of the fruit both at home and abroad, in a bid to avoid over saturation of the market.